The Bangladesh e-passport is a biometric travel document with an encrypted NFC chip built into the back cover that stores your fingerprints, iris scans, and a digital signature. You apply online at epassport.gov.bd, pay the fee (a 48-page, 10-year book is ৳5,750 by regular delivery, including 15% VAT), then attend one biometric appointment in person. Bangladesh was the first country in South Asia to roll these out, starting 22 January 2020, replacing the older Machine-Readable Passport (MRP).
I’ve spent more than a decade building biometric systems, so I’ll keep this practical: below is exactly what the e-passport stores, what it costs in 2026 at home and abroad, how to apply without triggering delays, the three passport colours, photo rules, and how to check your status.
Bangladesh e-passport at a glance (2026)
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| NFC chip location | Back cover (gold rectangular symbol) |
| Biometrics stored | 10 fingerprints, both irises, digital signature |
| Security features | 41, ICAO-compliant |
| Passport colours | Green (ordinary), Blue (official), Red (diplomatic) |
| Booklet sizes | 48 pages or 64 pages |
| Validity | 10 years (age 18–65), 5 years (under 18 / over 65) |
| Fee (48pg, 10yr, regular) | ৳5,750 incl. 15% VAT |
| Apply at | epassport.gov.bd |
| Global rank | 95th, visa-free/VoA to 37 destinations (Henley 2026) |
What biometric data does Bangladesh’s e-passport store?
The e-passport is an electronic travel document built around an embedded microchip. That chip stores your biographical details, a digital photograph, and your biometric identifiers:
- Fingerprints — all ten fingers.
- Iris scans — both eyes, using the same iris recognition technology found in high-security access control.
- Digital signature — a digital representation of your signature.
Because the chip ties your physical identity to a unique biometric profile, the document holder can be verified unambiguously at a border — which is the whole point of the upgrade from MRP.
Why the e-passport is more secure than the old MRP
The e-passport carries 41 security features and an encrypted, tamper-resistant chip, versus the physical-only data page of a Machine-Readable Passport. Verification across borders uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), the same standards-based system the ICAO Public Key Directory coordinates between countries.
| Feature | E-Passport | Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Biometric data + encrypted chip | Basic, prone to forgery |
| Data storage | Electronic (biometrics + personal data) | Physical data page only |
| Border clearance | Faster via e-gates | Standard immigration line |
| Forging difficulty | Very high (41 security features) | Standard authentication |
For how those chips are read at the border, see our guide on how e-gates streamline airport boarding.
The 3 types of Bangladeshi passport (green, blue, red)
Bangladesh issues three passport classes, distinguished by cover colour:
- Ordinary passport (green cover): the standard book for general citizens — travel, study, business.
- Official passport (blue cover): for government employees and officials; some countries waive visa requirements for holders.
- Diplomatic passport (red cover): for diplomats and top officials, with the widest visa-free access and consular benefits.
The ordinary book has a dark green cover embossed with the Government of Bangladesh seal in gold. Text and page numbers are bilingual (Bengali and English). You can choose 48 pages or 64 pages (better for frequent travellers).
Validity: 10 years for ages 18–65; 5 years for applicants under 18 or over 65.
A note on travel restrictions: New e-passports again carry the line “This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel.” The “except Israel” inscription was reinstated in April 2025 and is being phased into new and renewed books.
Where Bangladesh’s passport ranks globally
As of the 2026 Henley Passport Index, the Bangladeshi passport ranks 95th — up five places on the year — with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 37 destinations, including Barbados, Fiji, Jamaica, Nepal, and the Maldives. (The Daily Star, 2026)
How much does a Bangladesh e-passport cost in 2026?
For applicants inside Bangladesh, the fee depends on validity (5 or 10 years), page count (usually 48), and delivery speed. All fees below include 15% VAT. (Directorate of Immigration & Passports fee schedule)
| Booklet | Validity | Delivery | Fee (BDT, incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 pages | 5 years | Regular | ৳4,025 |
| 48 pages | 5 years | Express | ৳6,325 |
| 48 pages | 5 years | Super Express | ৳8,625 |
| 48 pages | 10 years | Regular | ৳5,750 |
| 48 pages | 10 years | Express | ৳8,050 |
| 48 pages | 10 years | Super Express | ৳10,350 |
Payment methods in Bangladesh: bKash / Nagad / Rocket via the official e-Challan system; any Sonali Bank or designated bank branch; or the government online payment gateway. Keep your payment receipt and e-Challan number — you need them for tracking and collection.
E-passport fees from abroad (London, Los Angeles, Bucharest)
Fees for applicants outside Bangladesh are charged in local currency and include a mandatory 10% surcharge for the Wage Earners’ Welfare Fund.
London High Commission (GBP)
| Applicant | Pages | Validity | Regular | Express |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 48 | 5 years | £96 | £145 |
| General | 48 | 10 years | £118 | £170 |
| Student | 48 | 5 years | £30 | £45 |
| Student | 48 | 10 years | £50 | £75 |
Los Angeles Consulate (USD, incl. 10% surcharge)
| Booklet | Validity | Delivery | Total (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (48pg) | 5 years | Regular | $110 |
| General (48pg) | 10 years | Express | $192.50 |
| Student (48pg) | 5 years | Regular | $33.00 |
| Student (48pg) | 10 years | Express | $82.50 |
Bucharest Embassy (EUR / RON)
| Pages | Validity | Regular | Express |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 5 years | €105 / RON 525 | €155 / RON 755 |
| 64 | 10 years | €180 / RON 900 | €235 / RON 1175 |
Processing and delivery times
- Regular: 4–6 weeks domestically (no data mismatch or police-verification hold). Abroad, e.g. Los Angeles, allow ~45 working days.
- Express: aims for ~21 days (e.g. London); ~30 working days in Los Angeles. Conditional on exact data matching and no police verification.
- European missions (e.g. Bucharest): often 8–10 weeks, since the printed book ships from Dhaka.
Processing time is never strictly guaranteed — it depends on the Immigration & Passport Department’s security and validation checks.
How to apply for a Bangladesh e-passport online (7 steps)
Documents you need first
- NID or 17-digit online-verifiable BRC: a Bangladeshi National ID (NID), or a 17-digit online-verifiable Birth Registration Certificate in the English version.
- Existing passport: if renewing, your MRP or e-passport should have under 1 year of validity left, unless you can prove a genuine need for earlier renewal.
- Mandatory in-person appearance: required for biometric enrolment regardless of age — including newborns. Children under 6 are exempt from fingerprint and iris capture but must still attend and bring a 3R (89 × 127 mm) lab-printed photo.
The application steps
- Lodge the application online at epassport.gov.bd/landing. Use Google Chrome.
- Create an account with a working email address and fill in the forms.
- Select the correct office/mission. Applying from abroad, choose your country and specific mission (London, Los Angeles, The Hague, etc.). Picking a Bangladesh office by mistake cancels the application and forces a resubmission.
- Print the completed form with the barcode plus the summary sheet.
- Book your biometric appointment through the same portal (the Los Angeles consulate may differ). Slots fill fast — be ready to check later months.
- Pay the fee by the method your mission accepts (see below).
- Attend the appointment for fingerprints, iris scan, and photo capture.
Payment is highly mission-specific:
- London: card only (credit/debit) at the counter — no cash or e-Challan. Choose “Offline Payment” in the portal even if it looks greyed out.
- Los Angeles: money order, cashier’s check, or official check payable to the Consulate General of Bangladesh, Los Angeles — not older than 30 days. No cash, no online.
- European missions (The Hague / Bucharest): usually direct bank transfer or a PIN terminal at the mission.
Do you need a photo? (Bangladesh e-passport photo rules)
For most applicants, no — your photo is captured live at the biometric appointment, so there’s no separate passport-photo upload for adults. Two things matter at capture:
- Children under 6: bring a 3R (89 × 127 mm) lab-printed photograph.
- Clothing: avoid white, sky-blue, or ash outfits — light colours interfere with the photo capture and can cause a retake or refusal.
Passport office tips for Dhaka applicants
Agargaon is the largest and best-equipped office; Uttara serves North Dhaka; Jatrabari serves South Dhaka. During peak seasons (April–May, November–December) Agargaon slots fill quickly, so Uttara or Jatrabari can be faster. If your present address doesn’t match your NID, police verification typically adds 2–4 weeks.
What to bring to your biometric appointment
Bring the complete set — minor discrepancies cause rejection or delay:
- Printed application form + summary sheet.
- Original existing passport (MRP or e-passport) if renewing.
- Proof of citizenship — original NID or 17-digit online-verifiable BRC (English).
- Proof of present address. Missions don’t always specify accepted documents, so check your local mission’s guidance (utility bill, bank statement, etc.).
Special cases: lost passport, name change, students
- Lost passport: provide the police lost-report reference letter lodged with your local police (e.g. in the UK or US).
- Data correction / name change: for over-18s, support changes with your NID; for under-18s, use the Digital BRC. Adding or removing a spouse’s name needs a registered Marriage Certificate or court divorce certificate (a standard Muslim Marriage Certificate is generally not accepted at the London High Commission).
- Full-time students: only full-time students qualify for discounted fees, with a Student ID, university/CAS letter, or ZIP card showing enrolment dates. Part-time, ESOL, PhD, Post-Doc, and MPhil students are not eligible.
How to check your e-passport status
You can track your application online at any time. Go to epassport.gov.bd/authorization/application-status and enter either your Application ID or Online Registration ID (OID) — both are on your printed summary sheet. The office also notifies you by email when the book is ready.
Collecting your e-passport
- Original delivery slip issued at your biometric appointment is mandatory — without it, collection is usually refused.
- Collection hours are fixed (e.g. the London High Commission collects 11:00–12:30 and 14:00–16:30 on working days).
- Who can collect: generally the applicant in person; parents collect children’s passports. Third-party collection is allowed only in genuine medical emergencies, with a signed authorization letter.
The top 3 mistakes that delay e-passport processing
- Data mismatch (the single most common cause of rejection): the details in your online application, old passport, and NID/BRC must match exactly. Even small name or date differences trigger extra verification.
- Wrong mission selection (abroad): submitting to a Bangladesh office instead of your foreign mission cancels the application outright.
- Light-coloured clothing at capture: white, sky-blue, or ash can spoil the photo and force a retake.
Operationally, occasional chip-reader faults or incomplete enrolment data can slow things at checkpoints; the authority runs regular system checks to limit this. Either way, no processing time — even Express — is fully guaranteed.
Where e-passports go next
E-passports are built to be future-ready. The same standards that make border e-gates possible today are what will carry the next wave — richer biometrics and more interconnected, automated border systems. At Tipsoi, we build biometric attendance and access-control systems on that same fingerprint and facial-recognition foundation, so I watch this space closely: the direction of travel is fewer manual checks and more identity that verifies itself. For the workplace version of that shift, see our overview of AI facial recognition attendance.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Bangladesh e-passport fee in 2026? A 48-page, 10-year book is ৳5,750 by regular delivery, ৳8,050 express, and ৳10,350 super express — all including 15% VAT. The 5-year book starts at ৳4,025 regular.
What are the three types of Bangladeshi passport? Green (ordinary, for general citizens), blue (official, for government staff), and red (diplomatic, for diplomats and senior officials).
Where is the NFC chip on the Bangladesh e-passport? On the back cover, beneath a protective layer, marked by a small gold rectangular symbol indicating encrypted biometric storage.
How do I check my e-passport status? At epassport.gov.bd/authorization/application-status, using your Application ID or Online Registration ID from the summary sheet.
Do I need to submit a photo for a Bangladesh e-passport? Adults don’t — the photo is captured at the biometric appointment. Children under 6 must bring a 3R (89 × 127 mm) lab-printed photo. Avoid white, sky-blue, or ash clothing at capture.
Is online payment accepted when applying from abroad? Generally no. Missions use specific local methods — card at the counter in London, money order or official check in Los Angeles, bank transfer or PIN terminal at European missions.
What is Bangladesh’s passport ranking in 2026? 95th on the Henley Passport Index, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 37 destinations.
References
- Directorate of Immigration & Passports — e-passport fees and payment
- ICAO — Doc 9303, Machine Readable Travel Documents and the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD)
- Henley & Partners / The Daily Star — Bangladesh passport ranking 2026
- The Daily Star — “Except Israel” reinstated, 2025
- BDRIS — online birth-certificate verification
